Leventhal & Puga, P.C., is nationally recognized for the work it does in medical malpractice cases. Our highly experienced and compassionate attorneys handle a wide variety of injury claims and get results.

Denver Ischemic Stroke Attorneys

Get Help After Medical Malpractice Leaves You Injured

An ischemic stroke occurs when there is an obstruction within a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain. The obstruction stops blood flow to a certain area of the brain, resulting in damage. The obstruction is usually caused by a blood clot; however, blood flow can also be affected by stenosis, or narrowing of the artery. Around 87% of all strokes are ischemic strokes.

While all ischemic strokes involve this interruption of blood flow to the brain, there are two main types: an embolic stroke occurs when a blood clot, a piece of plaque, or another object, forms somewhere else in the body and travels to the brain’s blood vessels; a thrombotic stroke occurs when a clot forms inside one of the blood vessels inside the brain.

An Ischemic Stroke Can Be Worsened by Medical Malpractice

The severity of an ischemic stroke is largely determined by the speed in which the stroke is diagnosed and treated. Because an ischemic stroke blocks blood flow to the brain, removing the blockage is crucial to lessening the effects on the patient’s brain.

Unfortunately, diagnosing and treating ischemic strokes is also where doctors and other healthcare providers make the most errors. Nearly 10% of strokes are misdiagnosed in United States emergency departments, according to Neurology Today. Stroke is the fourth most common misdiagnosis among major diagnostic errors. When a physician misdiagnoses a stroke or makes another error related to an ischemic stroke, he or she may be guilty of medical malpractice.

Doctors and other healthcare professionals should know to look for symptoms of stroke, known under the acronym FAST:

Facial drooping – can’t smile normally

Arm weakness – can’t keep arms lifted

Speech difficulties – can’t speak normally

Time – if the previous symptoms are observed, time is of the essence to treatment!

These symptoms point to neurological issues, which can be caused by the loss of blood flow to the brain during an ischemic stroke.

When a doctor suspects a stroke, he or she should order a CT scan to confirm the diagnosis and to determine if the stroke is ischemic. Ischemic stroke patients are often given a drug known as tPA, which works to dissolve the clot causing the stroke and to improve blood flow to the part of the brain being deprived of blood flow. tPA is time-sensitive and failure to provide this treatment in a timely manner may be negligent.

When a doctor brushes off signs of a stroke or does not quickly and efficiently conduct testing, there can be significant delays in treatment. These delays are life-changing in stroke treatment, because brain damage worsens drastically as time moves forward (American Stroke Association).

How to Prove Medical Malpractice

An experienced medical malpractice attorney will work to prove that your doctor did not meet the standard of care for ischemic stroke treatment, meaning he or she did not meet the level of care expected by a typical physician under the same circumstances.

Your lawyer will most likely use an expert medical witness, typically a physician who specializes in stroke treatment, to explain how and why the medical malpractice occurred. If you suspect you have a case, please contact Leventhal & Puga, P.C., as soon as possible. There are deadlines to file a lawsuit, which vary by state.

Work with an Experienced Denver Ischemic Stroke Attorney

Ischemic stroke is a serious but common health condition. Doctors and nurses should be well-equipped to recognize the signs of ischemic stroke, use testing to diagnose it, and treat it quickly and accurately. When they fail to do so, they are allowing brain tissue to die, causing critical brain damage.

If you’ve been the victim of medical malpractice related to ischemic stroke, you should be compensated for your medical bills, lost time at work, and decrease in quality of life.

If you’d like to discuss your experience and potential case with a knowledgeable and experienced Denver medical malpractice attorney, please call the office of Leventhal & Puga, P.C., at (303) 759-9945. There is no charge for an initial consultation.

Denver Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury Law Firm Disclaimer: The information presented on this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice, nor the formation of an attorney–client relationship. Any results set forth herein are based upon the facts of that particular case and do not represent a promise or guarantee. Please contact a lawyer for a consultation on your particular legal matter.